Best of 2011: Concept

What’s K-pop without the “concept”? Concept: a common, everyday English word you didn’t know could mean so many things until you started getting into K-pop (see also: “charisma,” “comeback,” “image”). A K-pop comeback without a much hyped about concept is a peanut butter sandwich without the jelly, a little salt without some pepper.

Regardless of how worthwhile artists’ concepts can be, they are what get the hype trains going once the comebacks are announced. Some concepts are a little more gimmicky than others, but some are just pretty damn awesome.